03 450 es wondering if i should install a plow or if this will hurt the bike?also if it is ok to use your winch for a lift

 

hello

we have a 1998 450es with 1700 miles on it . i have been plowing with it for 4 years and i run 26 inch mud lites and have had no problems at all . i use the winch to lift the plow . the only thing i wish i had done is get a bigger plow . it has a 48 inch cycle country on it and i wish we had bought the 60 inch or the state style plow . we have a very long dirt and rock ( big goony rocks ) drive way . it does good enough that we sold the plow truck we had . hope this helps .

 

I also have a '98 Forman S and I've been plowing for 2 winters now. I also use my winch to raise the blade, I've snapped the cable a couple times so I repair it with proper cable clamps from the hardware store. These bikes can really move the snow well. I have had very few mechanical repairs over the past 5 years, only 2 front wheel bearings, but I attribute that to trail riding and mud running with my 27" blaxkwater Xt's for the past 4 years!!!

 

I have a 48in Cycle Country on my Rubicon with a manual lift. I don't have the driveway some guys talked about, but after plowing mine and many of my neighbors, I had no problem with the manual lift. It's much quicker, it's very easy to operate and it also won't damage a pricey winch. And don't worry about damage to the quad - you'll be surprised at how easy it will push around piles of snow.